Chapter 17

Thank you FrankElza, Guest and Gillian Kearney Fan for reviewing my last chapter. This chapter isn't as long, but I still hope you enjoy reading it. Sandy

Casey sat in the Interrogation room, as he was a minor he was accompanied by Brax who sat to the right of him. Across the table were the two arresting police officers, one of the officers was explaining to Casey the charge against him.

Casey's P.O.V

I could see the officer's mouth open but I couldn't hear what he was saying. I felt an intense wave of fear, the room started spinning and I felt I was going to throw up. My whole body was shaking, I couldn't catch my breath, and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I could feel someone wrap there hands around me as I stood up, It took a few seconds for me to realize it was my dad.

He turned me around to face him still gripping onto my arms, I could hear him repeating to me to "take a deep breath, nice and slowly, nice and slowly" until I found myself breathing at a normal rate again. The officer handed me a glass of water and got me to sit down on a chair for a few minutes.

End of P.O.V

"Everything, is going to be OK Case" exclaimed Brax as he crouched down beside the chair Casey was sitting on "Just remember to tell them the truth".

Casey nodded his head, how was he going to tell the truth about him being bullied at school by Stacy's brother. His dad would think he was weak not standing up for himself against Courtney, the 'Braxtons' always stood up for themselves.

After a few minutes Casey found himself sitting back again in front of the two police officers, one of them began to highlight the seriousness of the crime and if found guilty of a sexual assault the conviction would carry a possible sentence of from 24 months to 48 months in a juvenile center depending on the severity of the case.

Casey turned and looked towards his dad trying to hold back the tears from escaping.

Brax quickly held Casey's hand trying to reassure him everything would be fine.

For the next half hour Brax had to sit and listen as Casey informed the police officers of how Courtney targeted him on his first day at Summer Bay High, how he threatened him into doing jobs he didn't want to do and as a result he got suspended from school over it. Casey could feel his body starting to shake again but continued to speak about his one and only acquaintance he had with Stacy and how Courtney shouted out threatening him "he hadn't heard the last from this."

Casey could feel the room start to spin again, he felt sweaty and light-headed just before he fainted.

Two hours later Brax and Casey arrived back home, Ricky, Heath, Kyle, Phoebe and Darcy were all sitting around in the lounge waiting for an update. Casey didn't even look in any of there direction he just headed towards his bedroom. Brax walked into the kitchen without saying a word and filled a glass of water and followed in Casey to his bedroom.

"Why didn't you say something about being bullied" questioned Brax in a very soft tone as he sat on the bed next to Casey.

"I didn't want you to think I was weak" cried Casey, eventually the tears he had been holding back for so long escaped down his cheeks.

Brax wrapped his arm around Casey pulling him in tightly while wiping away the tears with his other hand, "I would never think of you as weak" explained Brax, "You were so brave kiddo in trying to deal with Courtney yourself, taking the blame and punishment for something that was out of your control". "If anything I couldn't be more proud of you"

Casey gave a weak smile "Can you lie with me for a little while" asked Casey.

"Of course I will" replied Brax as he lid on the bed beside Casey holding onto his son tightly until Casey had fallen asleep.

Sometime later Brax strolled back out to the lounge looking shattered and stressed.

"How is he doing" questioned Heath who was walking around trying to settle Matthew who was a bit restless.

Brax shook his head "Not so good mate" replied Brax as he moved over to where Ricky was sitting and gave her a kiss on the top of her head.

"Was he charged" questioned Ricky

"Not yet! Why didn't I listen to you Ricky" said Brax as he sat on the arm of the chair Ricky was sitting on. "He was being bullied at school by Courtney and now his sister has accused him of sexual assault"

"Who is this kid Courtney" questioned Kyle

Brax turned towards Heath "Do you remember Larry Jefferies" asked Brax

"Was that the fellow who got suspended from the army because he had a drink problem" asked Heath

"Yes" nodded Brax, "he had a son Aden, he must have been your go Heath, seemingly he was sexually interfered with by his granddad who had also been in the army.

"What has the Courtney kid got to do with this" asked Kyle and "why was he bullying Casey"

"When I was about twelve" explained Brax "Aden and his mum left Mangrove River when she discovered what Larry's dad had done to her son, soon afterwards Larry got involved with another woman and had two kids with her a boy and a girl, Courtney and Stacy, that's when Larry got mixed up with our dad regarding drinking and drugs.

"I remember the night Larry got arrested he had been over at our house most of the day smoking dope and drinking with the auld fellow, he was involved in a hit and run that night , the pedestrian died. Courtney must have been only 3/4 years of age at the time. Anyway, Larry only lasted about two years in jail before he ended up taking his life. "Our auld fellow was blamed for Larry's death and Courtney found the right opportunity in getting his revenge by hurting Casey.

"What are we going to do about it" questioned Heath with a stern look on his face.

"Leave it for now" replied Brax, "I think we could all do with a good night sleep"

"Surely, you are not going to let Casey take the wrap for this " asked Kyle

"Like I said Kyle, I will deal with it tomorrow" replied Brax

Brax lay awake in his bed listening to Matthew and Ricky breathing while they slept. He was mad that Casey had to go through so much pain and hurt since his mum died, he blamed himself for it. He picked up his phone and checked the time, it was 4am.

Casey's P.O.V

I woke up to find I was in darkness, I switched on the bedside light and saw it was 4am on the clock. Everything, kept going around in my head, the words that police officer said regarding the penalty for sexual assault. I couldn't face going to prison, I could feel a coldness travel up through my body, I started to shiver.

I got out of my bed and slowly opened my bedroom door trying not to make a sound. I went into the kitchen and turned on the light. I opened the cupboard door and took out a box of pain relieve tablets. My hand started to shiver, when I was taking down a glass and a bottle of vodka. I filled up the glass with the vodka and emptied out the tablets on the work top. I picked up two of the tablets and was just about to put them into my mouth when?

End of P.O.V

"What the hell are you doing Casey" questioned Brax as he pulled the tablets out of his hands and emptied the glass of vodka down the sink.

"Please Dad, I cant handle it anymore" cried out Casey as the tears streamed down his face while he fell to the floor.

Brax immediately bent down beside Casey and wrapped his arms around his son pulling him in tight to his chest. "We will get through this Casey" replied Brax as he kissed the top of Casey's head.

"I can't go to prison, please let me go" Casey said in a very low tone "I don't want to be here anymore" as he looked into his dad's face.

"I can't loose you Case and I won't let you harm yourself" said Brax a tear fell down his face as he rocked Casey back and forth trying to relax him.

"I wanted to feel something else other than what I am feeling right now" cried Casey "I have tried to get through life since my mum died but I cant" "I am sorry dad"

"You are not going anywhere Case" replied Brax "I've got you and I promise I will get you through this"

Ricky stood in the doorway watching Brax cling onto his son. She went over and kissed Brax on the top of his head and whispered "I will call Nate". Brax nodded in reply.

Nate arrived fifteen minutes later to find Brax and Casey still sitting on the kitchen floor.

"Its all right Casey" said Nate as he bent down beside them. "I will give him a sedative to help him relax and get some sleep"

Brax was waiting for Casey to object when Nate came back with the needle but he didn't he just lay there still in Brax's arms away in another world. Nate helped Brax bring Casey over to the couch and laid him on it covering him with a blanket.

"Thanks Nate" replied Ricky as she handed him a cuppa before all three of them sat down at the table. Brax was still quite upset at what he had seen, he couldn't believe his fourteen year old kid had tried to take away his own life again.

"I think it would be best Brax if Casey is admitted to the hospital to get some professional help" suggested Nate as he looked in Brax's direction.

"No" replied Brax firmly, "I am not sending him into the hospital, I cant"

"This is the second time he has attempted to commit suicide with in a few months, the next time he may actually succeed" pointed our Nate "I was speaking with Casey's councilor and she informed me he sat for the entire hour and said nothing at his last two sessions"

"It has been a long night" replied Ricky as she looked over at Brax with a worried look on her face "Maybe, it would be best to leave the decision until the morning, see how Casey is"

"Fine, you have my number" replied Nate, "ring me anytime" before he left.

Brax stood up from the table in a rage of anger and went to the cupboard and pulled out any alcohol that was in them and emptied them down the sink. He then took anything that resembled a tablet out from the presses and threw them into the dust bin.

"Baby, maybe you should get some sleep you look exhausted" exclaimed Ricky "I will sit with Casey"

"No, I am not leaving him" replied Brax who went over to sit on the armchair and watched Casey sleep on the couch.

Ricky sat on the arm of the chair Brax was sitting on and cuddled into him "We will get him through this" replied Ricky who also watched Casey sleep peacefully on the couch.

"But I think Nate is right about Casey getting the right help from a medical point of view

"He is just a kid Ricky" cried Brax "he should be having fun with his mates, playing soccer, surfing with his dad "which he hates"

"And he will experience all that" replied Ricky "But we have to face that he may face some time in Juvenal if found guilty"

"Casey is innocent" protested Brax and I will prove it no matter what it takes